Pele F.C one of Guyana’s leading football institutions is mourning the passing of one of its own, Wendell Manifold who died recently in the United States.
It is reported that Manifold died of a mild heart attack. Stabroek Sports understands that his wife found him on the floor in a coma which he never recovered from.
Manifold who served as one of the Executive members of Pele was a former national footballer. Properly know as Dragger, he was an avid contributor to the Pele junior programme and was among the senior founding members of the club.
The others were Monty “Senor Val” Wilson, Clyde “Oiler” Watson, Colin “Broke-up” Watson, Keith “Bumpy” Layne, Rodwell “Tarzan” Allison, Alfred “Alli” Morrison, Orin “Tin-In” Fanfair, Lloyd “Chulay” Enmore, Eric “Riggy” Smith, Linden “Mental” Bollers, Ivor “Brazilian” Jones, Ivor “Carrie” Carrington, Patrick “Labba” Barton, Alfred “Pimp” Harris, Ashton “Caney” Arthur and Linden “Colt” Carter.
According to veteran journalist Allan la Rose, manifold captained Guyana while still at school and was highly regarded as Guyana’s best centre back.
Massive in size, la Rose said Manifold was a commanding all round and calculating player who captained Guyana against Suriname in the 1970 Inter-Guiana Games.
Later, Manifold returned to Guyana several times as a member of the Pele Alumni Youth Development Programme which included players such as Barton, Carrington, Layne, Carter and Billy Brathwaite to donate gear to the local chapter.
